England Blind footballer Brandon Coleman has praised Grow the Game and Bolton Wanderers Disability Football Club following the award of a £3000 grant from The FA.

The grant, which will provide a boost to grassroots disability football in Bolton, has paved the way for Bolton Wanderers Disability Football Club to create 2 new junior PAN disability football teams over the next 2 years, these teams will be open to male and female footballers aged between 5 – 14 years old. It will also help to provide a number of coaches with training to develop their ability within coaching disabled footballers

Brandon said: “I am delighted that Bolton Wanderers Disability Football Club has been awarded a Grow the Game grant. The club has worked extremely hard with Manchester FA and the Football Foundation to give more local players living with a disability the opportunity to get involved in the game.”

“Playing disability football from a young age not only provides a number of physical, mental and social benefits, but gives players the best chance to develop skills and achieve their potential. It is fantastic to see this money flowing down to the grassroots of the game and I wish Bolton Wanderers the very best of luck for next season!”

Grow the Game is a programme funded by The FA and delivered by the Football Foundation. It awards grants to grassroots football clubs that wish to create new teams, especially amongst under-represented groups.

This year, £1,500 was made available for clubs looking to create new female and disability football teams to help towards the costs of FA coaching courses; FA league affiliation costs; referees’ fees; first aid kits; football kit and equipment.

Nathan Saint, Disability Football Development Officer said: ”I am extremely pleased Bolton Wanderers Disability Football Club have been awarded this funding by Grow the Game and the Football Foundation. I would like to thank them and their efforts to help improve grassroots football in all the local areas.”

”It will go a very long way in helping to develop our disability football provision in Bolton that we provide in partnership with Bolton Wanderers Community Trust and Manchester FA. This funding will allow us to create the junior disability football teams and provide more opportunities for young people with disabilities to be involved in football, as well as up skill our coaches who work on the disability football sessions.”